I live on lake Erie , Can I carry on my boat in lake Erie?

[Statkowski]

Pennsylvania originally had even less of a "claim" on Lake Erie at one time.


Data Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Triangle

[Statkowski]

It's 12, as in nautical.

I said three, you corrected me with twelve. Guess what? We're both right!

It once was three nautical miles (and still is in some locales), but was codified as twelve nautical miles in 1982. During Prohibition, the three mile rule permitted bootleggers to operate quite efficiently. Here's the Wikipedia extract on such (one is never too old to learn):

Since the mid-20th century, numerous nations have claimed territorial waters well beyond the traditional three-mile (5 km) limit. Commonly these maritime territories extend 12 nautical miles (22 km) from a coastline, and this was eventually established as the international norm by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. As a result, the three-mile limit has become largely obsolete. As of 2007[update], only Gibraltar, Jordan, Palau, and Singapore retain it.

[SevenMilePete]

Dumb question, how do you tell who's jurisdition you are in? I know the coast line is X number of miles out to sea is still US waters but on the lakes are there set bounders or do different states and even Canada have different lines that you would need charts and GPS to tell where you are.Just asking since it was brought up.

Simple answer:Yes! If you bring up Lake Erie on Google Earth, it will show boundaries.

[Statkowski]

How frequently does PennDOT repaint the border line on the lake?

[TaePo]

How frequently does PennDOT repaint the border line on the lake?

They don't. But I hear the Dept. of Homeland Security emplaces and maintains an invisible fence cable that they spool on the bottom...

[Frenchy]

You might ask Doug, one of the masters here, If i remember well he has his captain's or pilots brevet for the great lakes.

Seems i remember him saying the great lakes where all US territorial, an other thing is waters are federally governed, at least in Canada. I believe the States have the same thing going.

http://boatlawyer.com/5132/learn-law...bert-l-gardana seems to be a legal advice type place that speaks on the subject a little, Personally, knowing the type of traffic there is on the great lakes (cigarettes and drugs) I would probably not wonder too far and comply with coast guards when ever they come close.

Since not every one has heard of Doug, here is his link to profile http://forum.pafoa.org/members/2-doug/

[indianjack]

They don't. But I hear the Dept. of Homeland Security emplaces and maintains an invisible fence cable that they spool on the bottom...

And they would love to put shock collars on us all to enforce it.

[HiredGoon]

How frequently does PennDOT repaint the border line on the lake?

I dunno, but I'm thinking they have to use oil-based paint so that it would float on top

[Im not Batman]

Great discussion ... Something I never thought of, but then again... I am not a boater.

One thing did come to mind and as I am no expert, wouldn't the law really fall under USCG Jurisdiction?

Keep the info coming.

[Im not Batman]

I dunno, but I'm thinking they have to use oil-based paint so that it would float on top

I would think they use ping pong balls on a string... And since it's PA, they are shaped like tiny orange cones....so turn on your headlights when near.